U.N. Urges Taliban to End Internet Blackout in Afghanistan: Crippling Humanitarian Crisis and Freedom of Expression at Stake

The United Nations (UN) mission in Afghanistan has called upon the Taliban administration to reinstate internet and telecommunications services nationwide, citing concerns that the current blackout has left the country isolated from global communications.

The nationwide outage, which occurred on Monday, marks the first such occurrence since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. The shutdown is part of a reported crackdown on immorality, as per Taliban directives. Previously this month, several provinces had experienced fiber-optic disruptions following a decree issued by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada banning the service in an attempt to curb immoral activities.

The UN stated that the outage poses significant threats to economic stability and exacerbates one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. The organization emphasized that the blackout is hindering banking and financial systems, isolating women and girls, limiting access to medical care, remittances, and disrupting aviation services.

Furthermore, UN representatives pointed out that such restrictions further impede freedom of expression and the right to information. They also highlighted the critical role of telecommunications during disasters, as Afghanistan has recently experienced major earthquakes in the east and continues to grapple with mass forced returns from neighboring countries.

The UN mission reported that the internet outage initially began on September 16 and became nationwide on September 29. The organization has expressed its intent to persistently engage with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to restore access “in support of the Afghan people.”